Sanders' big play energizes Gamecocks

By Kevin Melton | Halifax Media Group

Published: Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 11:47 PM.

Sanders said he enjoys being the player that provides a spark for his team.

“I think I’ve probably provided a pretty big spark,” he said. “I can see when I go out there the whole team coming behind me, making a cut and putting it in the end zone. …When I actually do it, I see how the stadium erupts and how our players respond, it shows me I’m a big part of the team.”

Before the season, Sanders was one of four players to earn the Outstanding Weight Room Award at the Garnet and Black Spring Game and was selected the Joe Morrison Special Teams Player of the spring.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Sanders’ play was one of many for his team against the Bulldogs.

“They were all big,” he said. “D.L. Moore’s catch, we sort of caught them without a free safety back there, checked to it fast, and he got it down to the 1 yard-line. That got us to 28-0. Obviously, we didn’t have a lot of passes, but we didn’t have to. Our defense was sensational. Sixty-seven plays they had (and) 61 for us. That’s not a bad way to win sometimes.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. – For South Carolina’s electricity needs, Ace is the place.

Junior wide receiver Ace Sanders electrified the home crowd with a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown that increased the Gamecocks’ lead to 21-0. It was ultimately the play that blew the invisible roof off of Williams-Brice Stadium to help No. 6 USC earn a 35-7 victory against No. 5 Georgia.

It was the second punt return for a score for the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Bradenton, Fla., native. The first came on a 68-yard return in a 56-37 victory in last year’s season opener against East Carolina.

Sanders bobbled the ball before regaining control, getting a couple of key blocks and outrunning the coverage into the end zone. He said staying with the play paid huge dividends.

“Actually I didn’t field it cleanly. I just dropped it,” Sanders said. “I had to stumble and pick it up. I saw the lane open up, so I just did my best to pick it up and try to hit it as fast as I can. Luckily they held their blocks long enough for me to hit the seam.”

The punt return for a touchdown was the first against Georgia since LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu took one 62 yards in last year’s SEC Championship game.

Sanders was named the SEC co-Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance in a 31-10 win against Missouri two weeks ago. His 49-yard punt return set up a touchdown to give the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead in the contest. He finished with six returns for 106 yards in the game.

Sanders said he enjoys being the player that provides a spark for his team.

“I think I’ve probably provided a pretty big spark,” he said. “I can see when I go out there the whole team coming behind me, making a cut and putting it in the end zone. …When I actually do it, I see how the stadium erupts and how our players respond, it shows me I’m a big part of the team.”

Before the season, Sanders was one of four players to earn the Outstanding Weight Room Award at the Garnet and Black Spring Game and was selected the Joe Morrison Special Teams Player of the spring.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Sanders’ play was one of many for his team against the Bulldogs.

“They were all big,” he said. “D.L. Moore’s catch, we sort of caught them without a free safety back there, checked to it fast, and he got it down to the 1 yard-line. That got us to 28-0. Obviously, we didn’t have a lot of passes, but we didn’t have to. Our defense was sensational. Sixty-seven plays they had (and) 61 for us. That’s not a bad way to win sometimes.”

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